The way comedy open mics are run at Crackhouse Comedy Club is the same as most open mics all around the world. People sign up for a spot, they perform for a few minutes, they’re either funny or not funny, and then we move on to the next act. They don’t get paid. This is the way it has always been since the club’s inception 8 years ago, and since open mics started in Kuala Lumpur 13 years ago. Nobody is there to insult any groups or any religion. Everybody share laughs and they go home. There has never been a problem, until now.
A few weeks ago, this lady performed at the open mic at Crackhouse Comedy Club for her first and last time. I can only give you a secondary account, as I was not there that night, but this is what I gather from watching the viral video everyone is talking about and also from friends who were there that night. She was wearing a hijab and a baju kurung. She said she had memorised 15 Juzuk Al Quran and then she removed the hijab and baju kurung to reveal what she was wearing inside – a revealing top and a mini skirt. It wasn’t funny or interesting, but some people in the audience cheered and applauded. The audience always feel pressured to be supportive of new performers. She was there with her partner, and he recorded her performance. That night itself, they were banned from club.
Yesterday, videos of that performance went viral on the Internet. On some platforms, the video was re-uploaded by other people with the title, “Acara Penghinaan Islam” (Islam Insulting Event). Every resharing just added fuel to the fire. As a result, Crackhouse copped a lot of flak online with people saying how could they allow such an event. People were very angry at the couple but also started attacking the club and its owner Rizal van Geyzel. If you don’t know Rizal, it’s easy to think that he is very Westernised based on his name and demeanour, but I assure you, he is very Malaysian and very much a Muslim. I am not Muslim myself so I cannot judge who is or isn’t a good Muslim, but I know that Rizal tries to be one, and also, I can say this for damned certain - he is a good man trying to make an honest living doing what he loves. He's not out to insult or criticise any religion, least of all, his own.
Today, I saw the news that Crackhouse has been suspended indefinitely. I’m sad and angry that they got caught in the crossfire because two social media influencers wanted to go viral.

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